The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-17
The Skill and Care with Which the Work Is
Conducted-Probability that Indiana and
Illinois Will Shortly Be Surveyed.
Things that Americans Should View
Before Going Abroad for Scenery.
A New York Federal Official Tells the Story
Of Editor Dorgheimer's First and Only
Appearance on Cory Dueling Ground.


The Extent and Vast Practical Value OF the
Work Performed by It's Officials.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, July 16-The economic oene-
fits OF the work performed by the United States
geological survey are just beginning to be ap-
preciated by railway men who are laying out
new lines Of railroad. The officials OF the survey
years the center of all the railroad building in
the country will DO located in the Southern
States They base this opinion on the fact that
the calls for maps OF the Southern mountain
ranges is Increasing very rapidly. The maps
thus far prepared by the geological survey cover
tho Eastern coast line from tho Maryland bound
airy to the Georgia coast. with the exception Of q
small section of Virginia They are at present
issued only to those directly interested in the
topography Of the Appalachian range, yet there
have been issued already upwards of 500 maps
Of the region. That Is to say, about one hun
dred different sets. These maps have
all been distributed to those direct
ly interested in tho building OF new
railroads It is said that there are somewhere
about twenty different roads in course of con-
struction between the coal fields Of the South
and the seaboard or the Ohio river. One gentle
man who is interested in the construction OF
road between Charleston. s. c., and the mouth
of the Big Sandy, the Ohio, called at the
office Of tho survey day or two ago and said
that the maps which had been furnished to his
company had saved the corporation At least $l0,
COO in preliminary surveys. From all sections
OF the South reports are constantly received of
the enormous value Of the maps furnished by
tho survey to typographical and civil engineers
The sentiment is general that the government
waited too long before taking the first steps to-
ward securing accurate maps OF the topo-
graphical formations Of the country, and those
who have the most at stake admit at last that
the work Of this Office 10 of the utmost value to
the future development Of tho railroad interests.
Besides the work which has been done in the
Southern States the survey has been extended
we'll into many sections of the North and West
Massachusetts has been mapped on . scale
of a square mile to the inch, through
the joint work Of the State and the
general government A field party has just
begun operations in southeastern Iowa for the
purpose of mapping that Slate on . similar scale.
Illinois and Indiana will, in all probability, DO
the next States in which the surveys will be I'M
dertaken. There 10 great difference in the
coat Of the work in the various States. In the
South, whore the country is broken by mount
ain ranges the cost is about $I2 q square mile.
ssvfile in the prairie States Of she West, where
the country lie fat tho work can be performed
at about S. square mile II is the ultimate in
tention Of the bu reau to prepare topographic
maps OF the entire country. Owing, however,
to tho necessary slowness Of the operations IL
will be many years before the entire scheme is
perfected. As fast the fed operations in
ca CHI case are perfected and verified tho orig
inal maps are sent to tho engrAver and few
copies are made for immediate uss Eventually
there will be prepared an atlas Of each State.
These aliases will be OF enormous value, not
only to railroad engineers but to all municipal
tiles who have use for accurate topographic
map OF the country surrounding them.